Win
Aung Visit: Human Rights Activists Fear for Safety of
24 September 2002
The Asian Forum
for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) on the visit of Win Aung, SPDC's Foreign Minister to Thailand.
The Asian Forum
for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia) calls on the Thai Government
to guarantee protection for rape victims fleeing systematic abuse at the
hands of the Burmese Military and to prevent further crackdowns on pro-democracy
and human rights activists as a result of the September 24-25 visit of
SPDC Foreign Minister Win Aung to Bangkok.
The regional
human rights organisation fears that Thailand may agree to trade-off the
safety of Burmese asylum-seekers and pro-democracy activists in return
for the improvement of relations, particularly trade relations with Burma's
ruling Military Junta. Forum-Asia
is especially concerned for the safety of ethnic minority women fleeing
numerous instances of rape and torture by the Burmese armed forces, and
activists who assist them. If returned to Burma, the women would face
imprisonment, torture and execution for reporting the attacks.
The Thai Government
is yet to guarantee protection against repatriation or allow access to
humanitarian assistance for these victims, despite a recently released
report, Licence to Rape, which has received much international attention
for its well-documented account of the systematic use of rape as a weapon
of war by Burmese Armed Forces in Burma's Shan State.
According to
the report, published by the Shan Women's Actino Network (S.W.A.N) and
the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF), 83% of rapes documented were
committed by officers, in most cases in front of their troops.
The rapes often involved extreme brutality and torture, 61% were
gang-rapes, and in some cases, women were detained and raped repeatedly
for periods of up to four months. The youngest victim was only five years
old.
Last month the
Thai Government has already closed down the offices of both organisations
responsible for the report, and Forum-Asia fears for the safety of the
authors.
Instead of instituting
a transparent and independent investigation into the reported rapes, the
SPDC has responded to the report by further pressuring the Thai government
to crackdown on and silence NGOs working on Burma issues and Burmese pro-democracy
activists in Thailand. Forum-Asia believes Burma's refusal to re-open
border checkpoints is related to the recent crackdown on Burma-related
NGOs in Thailand, and is concerned that Win Aung's visit may spark another
round of crackdowns, possibly targeting groups attempting to support rape
victims or disseminate further reports of rapes in ethnic minority areas.
"During
meetings with Win Aung, Thaksin should encourage the SPDC to allow international
human rights monitoring in ethnic minority areas, and to take immediate
action to punish military personnel accused of rape." said Forum-Asia Secretary-General, Somchai Homlaor.
"If the
Thai government is committed to promoting democratisation in Burma it
will protect pro-democracy groups taking refuge in Thailand rather than
persecuting them" Mr. Homlaor added. "The Thai government should not bow
to pressure by assisting the SPDC to silence their critics, but should
remind Burma that Thailand is an open society proud of its democratic
achievements."
"If Thailand
is sincere about developing sustainable, transparent and uninterrupted
bi-lateral ties with Burma, it must support efforts to restore democracy
and work towards peaceful reconciliation in Burma." Mr. Homlaor advised
the Thai government.
For further information or comments contact Somchai Homlaor, Forum-Asia
Secretary General, on +66-1-899 5476 or Forum-Asia Media Office on
+66-6-060
53 72 or media@forumasia.org